Composite fence structure



Eric 2'23 E. R. SKILNIK COMPOSITE FENCE STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 30, 1955 Jan. 5, 1937.

Patented Jan. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT I O FF] C E COMPOSITE FENCE, STRUCTURE Eric R. Skilnik, Chicago lll.

Application December 30, 1935, Serial No. 56,642.

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a composite structure.

In the form illustrated herewith it is particularly.

embodied in a fence, although it is not limited to use in such a structure.

Ithas forone object to provide means for erecting a' fence simply. Another object is to provide means for erecting a fence without the use of tools. The third object isto provide a fence or other composite structure in which the parts maybe assembled without the use of tools and may be fastened or locked together without the use of any. additional pieces, such as keys, Wedges, bolts or-analogous members.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a fence;

Figure 2 is a plan view with parts broken away and parts in section;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of one of the standards;

Figure 4 is a plan view of an upper rail;

Figure 5 is a plan view of anupper rail positioned adjacent the rail of. Figure 4 to indicate the assembly of the two in afence;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a lower rail.

Like parts are designated by like characters throughout the specification and drawing.

I indicates a main support which in this case is the ground. 2 are individual foundations for standards. These foundations may be of any design or material. It is often convenient to have concrete or'stone blocks to serve as foundations for the standards. To these foundations are secured standards 3 which may be of any shape but as in the form shown are of channel section andslotted in at least two places as at, 4 to provide seats or receiving portions for the upper and lower rails. The lower rail 5 is provided at suitable intervals intermediate its ends with slots 6 which may be of any size and shape but are, in the form here shown, generally straight and generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the rail 5. To make the rail suitable for usein a structure in which two rails join at right angles, the rail may have at or near its end two slots 6 intersecting each other symmetrically and at right angles. This is not an essential featurebut is usually an advantage. The rails 5 are of such sizethat they pass through and fit within the slots 4 in the standards 3. Ordinarily, of course; since! is intended'pri'marily to act as a lower rail, it will be inserted through the lower slot 4.

The upper rails l are provided with slots 8 of any size and shape but in the particular form shown the slotsare generally elongated and in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the rail 1. The slots are preferably. shaped to provide dif ferentdiameters. In the particular form here shownthisis accomplishedby an enlargement or notchfiwhich may be formed anywhere throughout thelength of the slot. To permit the use of the upper rails in the corner of structures where one rail meets another at a right angle, twosuch slots 8, 9 may be provided at the corner, meeting at right angles to each other. Thus when two upper rails have their ends superimposed at right angles to each other the. crossed slots .of each rail arein register with each other and a picket may I be inserted in the slot facing in either direction.

A. suitable number of pickets In which may. have curved or ornamental upper' ends II is inserted in'the slots. The pickets, as shown, are provided preferably below. their centers, or even adjacent their lower ends, with downwardly faced tongues: l2. In the form shown these tongues contact the upper surface of the lower rail 5 and actzasstops to limit the downward movement of the picket. Each picket is also provided, preferably above itscenter and adjacent its upper end with amupwa'rdly or oppositely facing. tongue I3. When. the pickets aremade, both tongues are preferably severed along their sides and across oneend and bent to an initial or partially bent position. Since the slots. in. the lower rail'conform tov the shape of the cross section of the picketthey donot permit either of the tongues-to pass through. Since, however, the grooves in the upperrail are enlarged as at 9, for example, they permit both tongues to pass through. After the pickets are in place with the lower tongue l2 resting on the upper surface of the lower rail 5, the upper tongue 13 is close tothe lower surface of the upper rail 1. It may bethen bent further so that. it extends, as shown in Figure 1, outwardly away from the surface of the picket a distance sufficient to prevent its subsequent withdrawalthrough the enlargement 9 of the slot 8. In other words, the pickets are assembled first bymerely being slipped through the slots in both rails, the lower tongue seats on the lower rail and the upper tongue is then pushed far enough out of line so that it can no longer pass through the slot in the-upperrail and in this manner the fence is" assembled and cannot fall or be taken apart.

to foundations formed in the ground. It

also, in the case of partitions, walls, shelves and the like,.be secured to the foundation or floors of a building or roomor other enclosed space.

Whatever the exact details, there will in general be certain support or standard members which are secured in position and are aligned to define the direction and the, dimensions of the. fence, Y

partition, shelving or other structure to .be

erected. V e e The rails are inserted through-the ,slotsin, the

standards. It is to be understood that the rails might be secured to the standardsin any other waybut a convenient method is that shown in which the standards are ofchannel section and slotted to receive the rails. In general alsoall of the, lower'rails will be identical with each other and all of the upper rails willbe identical with each other, although theseare not absolutely essential'features.

If it be assumed that the standards are in position and that the lower railshave been mounted in them, and that the upper rails have also been mounted in them, then the lowerrails, with their straight slots, are so arranged that at the corner where one rail meets another the overlyingslots;

:of each railare in register with the slots of the other rail and the same is true of the slots in' the upper rails. 'The pickets may thenbe inserted. The shape and size of the slot at .or near the end of .the bottomfrail where more than two rails are used, one above the other, are such that thepicket may penetrate through at least the uppermost rail and usually through the-bottom rail. Through that rail the picket may penetrate but the tongue or projecting member may not. Hence it contacts one of the rails, usually the lowermost rail, and serves to position the picket vertically. I

The problem; now is to fasten the picket against removal and for that purpose the upper tongue or projection, which has passed through at least some, and usually all except the lower rail, is forced farther outward, and thus extends beyond the laterally projecting portion formed in. the slots in the upper rail. or rails and so prevents.

withdrawaL Thus the'insertion ,of the pickets completes .thefence and also ties the rails together at the cornersbeceiuse at that point, where the rails of each set overlap, the slots intersect and a single picketpassesthrough the slots of twoadjacent rails and secures them toether, and so the picket serves not, only as its own fastening and positioning member but. also i as the fastening and positioning memberfor the rails themselves, and no'special tool has been necessary and no added part is necessary. A

hammer and a simple chisel, screwdriver orpunch can be used to force the upper tongue or projection far enough out of line with the surface of the picket within which it lies to prevent with- ,drawal of the latter from the rail into which it,

has been inserted. In this manner thefence is assembled. While the projections or tongues are shown as partially formed at the time the fence pickets are assembled, it might, of course, be quite unformed and a prick punch or other tool might be used to force it outwardly or it might be severed and left in place and then forced outwardly. It is ordinarily convenient, however, to sever it and force it initially partly outward, leaving it to be forced fully outward to the locking positionafter it hasbeen assembled in the fence.

Although I have spoken of a fence, obviously aframework corresponding generally to the fence mightbe formed by the parts shown and in general if that were done the method of construction and assembly would be substantially the same as that shown in the present drawing.

The rails would in thatcase serve to support tioned out of line with the plane ,ofthe picket,

and provided also with an upwardly facing tongue positioned out, ofline with the plane of said picket, the upper, tongue originally being so disposed as to pass through the enlargement in the slot in the upper rail and being thereafter moved to a position preventing its passage and consequent withdrawal of the picket through the slot. l

2. In a composite fence, a plurality of fixed standards, rails positioned one. above the other slidably in said standards, one. rail provided with a plurality of slots, the slots adjacent the ends of said rail intersecting the other at right angles, another rail provided withiirregularly shaped slots, each slot having a lateral enlargement intermediate its ends, the slots atthe ends, of the said rail intersecting at right angles, and pickets positioned in said slots and holding said rails against sliding, each picket provided with a downwardly facing tongue positioned out of line withthe plane of the picket, and provided also with an upwardly facing tongue positioned out of line with the plane; of said picket, the upper tongue originally. being so disposed as to pass through the enlargement inthe slot in the upper rail and adapted thereafter to be moved to a position; preventing its passage and consequent withdrawal ofthe picket through the slot. v

3. In a composite fence, a plurality of fixed standards, slots in said standards, generally h0ri-,

a lateral enlargement intermediateits ends, and,

pickets shaped to be positioned in said slots to hold said rails against sliding, each picket provided with a downwardly facingtongue positioned out of line with the plane of thepicket,

and provided also with an upwardly facing tongue positioned out of line with the plane of said picket, the upper tongue originally being so disposed as to pass through the enlargement in the slot in the upper rail and adapted thereafter to be moved to a position preventing its passage and consequent withdrawal of the picket through the slot.

4. In combination in a fence, an upper and a lower rail, and a plurality of pickets, each picket having a downwardly faced outward projection below its center and an upwardly facing out ward projection above its center, slots in said lower rail sized and shaped to permit the picket alone to pass therethrough, slots in said upper rail sized and shaped to permit said picket and projections to pass therethrough, the upper projection, after having passed through the rail, being forced outwardly to hold the picket against removal, and each rail having at its end crossed slots positioned at right angles to each other whereby a single picket is adapted to engage and hold in position a plurality of angularly disposed rails, each pair of crossed slots being the same in size and shape as the slots positioned in the remainder of the rail.

5. Means for erecting upon a plurality of fixed supports a composite fence structure comprising a plurality of identical pickets, each having a pair of projections, one below its center facing downwardly, another above its center facing upwardly, and a plurality of upper and lower rails, the lower rails being each provided with a series of straight, longitudinally aligned slots and having at their ends crossed slots, symmetrically positioned, meeting at right angles and being of the same size and shape as the slots in the remainder of the rail, the upper rails being identical with each other and provided with a series of generally longitudinally aligned slots, each slot having a lateral enlargement and adjacent its ends having crossed slots symmetrically positioned, said supports shaped to receive said rails, said lower projections in a completed fence contacting the upper surface of a rail, said upper projections in a completed fence being pressed outwardly beyond the lateral enlargement of the slots of said upper rail and preventing withdrawal of a picket.

ERIC R. SKILNIK. 

